Emetophobia & Norovirus: Fear of Vomiting Meets the Stomach Flu

I am afraid to vomit. I have emetophobia, which is the fear of vomit and vomiting.

Emetophobia is hard enough to deal with on a daily basis, but when you are smack dab in the middle of stomach flu season and everyone you run into tells you about how they are getting over the norovirus, it's a nightmare.

Norovirus according to wikipedia is, "is a genus of viruses of the family Caliciviridae. Recent scientific findings reveal that the genus causes around 50% of all gastroenteritis (stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting) around the world." It is the end of the world for an emetophobe.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can be spread in one of three ways. First it can be spread by eating or drinking food contaminated with norovirus. Secondly it can be spread by touching a hard surface contaminated with norovirus and then putting your hand into your mouth. Thirdly norovirus is spread through having direct contact with someone who has the illness.

The tricky part of norovirus is twofold. First, you can are contagious and can transmit norovirus prior to even showing symptoms. Secondly, even after you begin to feel better from the illness your body is still shedding the disease and you are still contagious for anywhere from three days to two weeks. People often think, well I am feeling better and no longer throwing up, I will go back to work. This is the kiss of death if someone with norovirus works in the food industry and goes back to food prep while still contagious.

Norovirus can happen at any time of the year, but is most active during the Winter months when people tend to spend more time inside. As an emetophobe I am on pins and needles from November through April of most years. I live in fear of getting norovirus.

One of the worst parts of Emetophobia is that the thought of vomit or vomiting can trigger a panic attack and severe anxiety. I go into high anxiety mode when I find out someone who I came in contact with that day came down with norovirus. I combat this as much as I can by taking SSRI's and by frequent hand washing, but the panic and anxiety is still there.